“From what I can see, you look beautiful, Dee,” she replies, using my shortened nickname.
The black, long-sleeved faux wrap top and dark-washed jeans were probably the tenth ensemble I tried on before I left the house. I reach a hand up to touch the soft waves of my hair spilling over my shoulders that took me forever to create with the large barrel curling iron.
I tilt the phone and smooth a hand down the silky material of the blouse. “Does it make me look fat?”
She frowns into the camera. “Will you cut it out? You are not fat!”
Well, I sure as hell am not skinny.
“Do my boobs look too big?”
The slight plunging V shows more cleavage than I’m used to. The tunic wrap top and girlfriend ankle jeans were an impulse buy I made today when Chase and I walked past one of the boutique clothing shops after we left the park. I may have also purchased a new pair of bandage peep toe stilettos as well.
Harper bursts out laughing.
“What?” I grump, feeling a little self-conscious. Does she hate the new top? Will Jordan hate it? I knew I should’ve just gone the comfortable route and worn my cozy blue hoodie.
Catching her breath, she grins. “You willneverhear a complaint from a man about the size of a woman’s boobs. They’re boobs. That’s all men care about.”
“I’m nervous,” I admit.
Her humorous expression chastens. “I know you are. If it makes you feel any better, Jordan is just as nervous. I’ve never seen him act like this about a woman. He really likes you, Dee,” she says in all seriousness.
Oh, the millions of butterflies that unfurl their wings inside my stomach at hearing that admission.
“This isn’t weird to you?”
Her head cants to the side, sending one of her braids falling sideways against her face. “Weird in what way?”
“Me and your brother on a date, knowing what happened between us… you know,” I awkwardly trail off.
She pulls the phone closer to her face. “It’s not weird to me. You’re one of my best friends, and Jordan is my brother who I love more than anything. My honest opinion? He needs you in his life, and I think you need him. Paraphrasing the immortal words of Jerry Maguire to Dorothy Boyd, you complete one another.”
I make a very unladylike snort, even though what she said hits me with a hard dose of reality.
This is really happening. It’s not a dream or one of my teenage fantasies, or the wish I kept hanging on the Wishing Tree coming true.
“Okay, sexy lady, I need to skedaddle. I’ll sneak out through the west garage, so I don’t disturb you two.”
“You’re leaving?”
“I’m staying over at a friend’s, so you and Jorey can have some privacy.”
A sense of panic takes hold. No Harper means no buffer between me and Jordan. It’ll just be the two of us. Alone. In his huge mansion.
“Harper,” I whine.
I drop the phone but recover it quickly when she suddenly shrieks with excitement.
“I’m so excited for you! Okay, big kisses. Love you. Remember to wrap it up!”
Choking on the air I just inhaled, I bluster, “Stop insinuating that I’m going to have sex with your brother.”
She’s all giggles when she replies, “Forget I said that last part. The Montgomery swimmers are strong in my family. I am one out of eight siblings after all. I’ll be the bestest aunt ever. I can babysit and everything. Oh my gosh! You and Jordan will make gorgeous babies together!”
“What the hell, Harper!?”
The video goes black and the message “Your call with Harper has ended” appears. I stare dumbfoundedly at the blank screen in absolute disbelief that she just hung up on me.
